Device for preventing theft or unauthorized use of automobiles



1,688,496 J. HOLTZMAN.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THEFT 0R UNAUTHORIZED USE OF AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 15 19.21 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,496

J. HOLTZMAN DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THEFT OR UNAUTHORIZED USE OF AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 15. 1921 z Sheets-Sheet 2 6'1 1 81 /72 69 0 X 6'4 83 73 a: es 77. 3B2 7] J53 65 fly. 5 86 JINVENTOR BYAJAKIAZZZ I entreejsrArssPATE NT, OFFICE.

JOHN HOLTZMAN, on NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIeNoRor ONE-HALF TO BENJAMIN ROMAN,

' or new YORK, NY. I

' DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THEFT OR 'UNA J'JIHORZZIElJ USE AUTOMOBILES.

, Application filed September This invention relates to devices that are intended to prevent the theft or unauthorized use of automobiles, and particularly to. the

type which is attached to one ofthe running wheels of the automobile sov as to interfere'in some manner with'its normal operation.

The principal'object of my invention is to provide an efiicient and improved device for the above purpose which will remedy many of the disadvantagesand defectsfound 1n and inherent to the devices heretofore utilized or proposed.

Qther objects and advant after appear. in the accompanying drawings,'

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a plan view of. the device shownin Fig.1. 1 3, 4i, and 5 show views of. modifications of parts of the improvements constitutages will hereining this invention. I

Against the inner surfaces 1. of the die metrically opposite sides 2 of the felly 3 of the automobile wheel 4 are located heads or members 5,6, parts from which extend as legs7, 8

- to the ground 9; Said legs are disposeddownwardly obliquely and in oppositedirections away from the axis of the wheel 4.. The 1nemhere 5, 6 are provided-with lugs 10,:into which are threaded the legs 11 of L-sha-ped'bolts 12, 13, respectively. To the leg laof bolt. 12 is threaded the bossed end 15 of an arm 16, and

to the leg 14. of bolt 13-is threaded the bossed end 17 of an arm 18. I the arm 18 is formed as a block 20, to which is hinged at 21 the extremity 22 of the arm 16, and anarm 23, forming part of the block 20 and thereby constituting an. extension ofthe arm 18, extends from said block over to the end 150i" the arm :16, whereat the bossed end 24: of the arm 23 registers with the-end 15.

e ithinthe arm-end 24 is encased a loci: bar- I rel, the lock bolt 25 of which enters into a keeper-opening 26 provided in the arm-end 15, whereby by manipulation of the key 27 the arm-end 24 may be locked to and unlocked from the arm-end 15. The arms 16, 18, canbe normally swung relatively to each other about the hinge 21, whereby the entire deviceinay be readily detached from the wheel e'bymerely unlocking the arm ends 24, 15, and drawing the arm 28 away from the arm 16, which action causes the. arms 16, 18' to swing toward each other and the members 5, 6 to 'move toward each other and to entirely clear the di- The opposite end19 of" is, 1921. Serial 110 500569.

eiztent in their dimensions, provision is made- I in this device wherewith it may be adjusted to accurately-fit to any wheel, so that when the device is attached to any wheel it will be fully and efficiently operative thereon to carry out its function. When it is desired to attach thisdeviceto any wheel therefore, the bolt legs 14' are first threaded in the arm-ends 15,17 to such extentthat when the members 5, 6 are in operative position on the felly 3 and the device is in attached state the block 20 will bear against the hub-cap 28, and then the members 5, 6 are threaded along the boltlegs 11 to such position that when in operative position said members will bear forcibly against the surfaces '1 of the sides 2 of the folly 3. After the device has been thusonce adjusted, it may be attached .to the wheel 1 whenever required, by merely passing the members 5, 6 against the rim-portions 2 in the position shown, then swingingthe arm 23 toward the arm 16, and then locking the armeends 2 1, 15 to each other with the key 27, whereupon the device becomessecurely fastened in locked state to the opposite sides of the wheel felly v3, with its legs 8 resting upon the ground. If desired. the adjustment of the'bolt-legs 14 in the armends 15, 17 may be made so as to cause the projections 29 of the members 5, to bear forcibly against the felly 3, and the'block 20 to. bear forcibly against the hub-cap 28, upon the loci-:- ing of the'leversor arms 23, 16, in which case the device can be secured to the wheel-hub and: th rear side of the folly 3 inaddition to being. securedto the diametrically opposite sides 2 of the rim.

When the device isthus fastened in the operative device shown, any attempt at stealing r, unauthorized use of the automobile will be frustrated, because-the wheel will belocked against any possible rotation by thele'gs 7, 8v standing upon the ground and this'lockingof thewheel as well as the abutment-of thelegs its own power or by means of towing away the machine, as is frequently resorted. to by thieves at the present time. Should the thief undertake to, remove the wheel at, from its-axle, with the device attached thereto, and then substitute another wheel in its place, the same would be frustrated by the block 20 being locked against, the hub-cap 28,Wltl1011t the un-.

threading andremoval of which he could not possibly remove the wheel 4.

To the leg 8 is pivoted at a lever 31 which carries a knife 32. ff attempt is made to tow away the machine, in spite of the difliculties produced by the device, the abutment of the lever 31 against the ground will swing the lever toward the left and cause the knife to puncture and defiate the tire 'lhe 1 ad of the machine will thereupon bear directly upon the device and its legs 8, and propulsion or towing of the automobile will be thereby further prevented.

According to the modification Fig. 3, the device comprises a pair arms 34, 35, that have their ends to each other at 37, which hinge near to the inner side of the felly 3; Said arms are provided with shoulders 38, adjacent to the hinge 37, which embrace the folly 3, and the arms extend from the hinge around the tire 33 and meet each other at 39, where their ends, formed as bloc rs 40, 41, are locked to each other by means of the key of curved 36 lunged Upon one of the arm-ends 36 is formed a 43, in which threads a shank 44 having at its extremity a fork 45 which is adapted to em brace the hub 46 of the wheel 4. VJ hen this device is first attached to the automobilewheel 4, the shank 44 is adjusted in the lug 43 to such a position that when the device i in locked state the fork 45 will bear against the hub 46 and the shoulders 38 will bear against the folly 3, in which manner the de vice becomes securely attached to thewheel uponv the locking thereof, with the key 42. To detach the device, it merely requires unlocking with the key 42, then swinging the arms 34, 35 about the hinge 37, which releases the fork 45 from the hub 46 and the shoulders 38 from the felly 3, and then withdrawing the device from the wheel 4. A setscrew 47 may be threaded in one of the shoulders to adjust it to fit to fellies 3 of anywidth.

Should attempt be made to run'themachine when the device of Fig. 3 is attached to its wheel, the same would be frustrated by abutment of its armen is 40, 41 against the ground, whichwould prevent the free rota-' tion of the wheel 4.' ln the arm-end 40 is threaded a bushing; 48 having a bore 49, through which passes a knife 50 slidable toward the tire 33. Should attempt be made to ride the machine, in spite of the difiiculties produced by this device, the abutment of the terminal 51 of the knife against the ground would cause it to puncture and deflate the tire 33, which occurrence would further prevent the propulsion or towing of the machine. Should the thief undertake to dislocate the device, by deliberately defiatingthe tire and then turning the device therearound to offset the arm-endsx40, 41 and reinflating the tire,

thesame would be frustrated by the attachment of the fork 45 of the device to the hub shown in.

is located forming the bore 64.

an internal gu1de channel 85, so thatlwhen the 46. To prevent removal of the Wheel 4, when 7 this device is attached thereto, a chain 52 secured to an car 55 forming part of thearm 34, and the opposite end of'said chain is se cured to a collar 54 a553, which collar con- '61, which embraces the folly 3and part of the tire 33, and a leg 62 forming part of said member extends therefrom to anylength or distance desired beyond the periphery of the tire. Said member is provided with lug 63 part thereof, through a I bore 64 of which passes slidably a rod 65 having at its terminal a fork 66, to which it is secured by means of the thread 67, which fork embraces the hub 46. Rotation of the rod 65 is preventedby meansof a pin 68 secured thereto projecting into-a slot 69 formedin the bore The end 7 O of theirod 65 is provided with a spring 72 upon its extremity, which spring bears constantly against the rod and also against a cap 7 3 which threads intothe bore 64, whereby this spring constantly presses against said rod and forces'it out wardly. Upon the member 61 and log 63 is formed as a part thereof a casing 74, in which is mounted the usual lock-barrel 75, secured to the casing by means of a screw 76. The usual rotatable fiat lock-bar 7 7 projecting from the'barrel 7 5 passes into an opening 78 formed in a cylindrical bolt 7 9'which is ro' tatably mounted in the casing 74,'byi means of said passage of the bar 77 thereinto and a projecting stud '80 thereof being mounted in a bearingSl formed in the casing. Said bolt gular or slantbottom-wall 83, and adisk 84 is located in said slot, with "its periphery bearing against the slo't-wall 831 of the bolt- 79 andagainst the rod end located witl i The casing 74 is provided with bolt 79 is rotated, by manipulation of the key 86, said channel guides the disk- 84 and permits it to be retained within the slotg82 of the bolt while the latter is rotated, whereby the disk 84 is rotated together with the bolt. operative condition by the key 86, it carries the disk 84 away from the rod 65 and permits the rod to be slid freely through the bore a 64 in either direction, inwardly or outwardly, and when said bolt is disposed to a locked operative position it throws the disk 84 into the position shown in contact with the rod 65, in which position the bolt and disk remain looked upon removal of the key. Thereupon, the rod 65' may befreely slid toward the left as :viewed in the drawing,;or out of the lug 63, but if attempt is made to slide the 79 is provided with a slot 82 having an an- 1 When the bolt 79 is thrown into an in-i rod to any extent inwardly or toward the right, the same is absolutely prevented by the rod 65 hearing against the disk 84 and binding it between the rod and the slot-wall 83 of the bolt 79. A'spring 87 located in a recess 88 in the casing 74C bears against the disk 84 and thus facilitates the binding ac' tion thereof between the rod 65, whereby any back-lash of said rod toward the right is prevented. All that is necessary to attach this device to the wheel 4, is to first slide the rod 65 inwardly as far as it will go, then, while holdin qthe rod in this position, to grasp the member 61 with the other hand and slip it over the rim 3 in the position shown, and then, while still holding said member, to release the rod 65, whereupon the spring 72 will automatically force the rod 65 outwardly and cause its fork 66 to bear pressingly against the'wheel-hub 46. The key 86 may be then turned, and withdrawn, to throw the disk 84L into the locked position shown, which will securely lockthe device in place. To detach this device, it merely requires unlocking it with the key 7 86, thenshii 'ting the rod 65 inwardly tocause its fork 66 to clear the hub 46, and then withdrawing the device from the wheel. The leg 62 of this device may be made long to about the extent of the leg Sin Fig. 1, and two oi these devices may be attached to the wheel-rim, one at each side of'the-wheel-hub and in Contact with. theground, so as to carry out the same function as that described in connection with the legsyS, Fig. 1. If desired, the projection 89 of fork 67 may be itself formed as a fork 90, which passes around the sleeve-portion 91 of the wheel-hub, and

v thereby adds further-diiiiculty to any attempt at dislocation of the device by a thief. An opening 76P1n the lug 63 permits a screw driver to be passed therethrough torthreading the screw 7 6 in place during assemblage of the device. 1

If desired, the leg 62 of this device'may be made to have a casing 92 formed thereon, wherein there .is located a usual bell-alarm mechanism operated by a spring motor,not shown, on the spring-shaft 93 otwhich there is keyed an escapement-wheel 94 having a series of notches 95. In the casing 92 is pro vided an opening 96, through which may be passed a detent 97 which enters either of the notches 95. Said detent is slidable in a cylinder 98 having a spring 99 therein and a shoe 100 formed at its terminal. The device may be attached to the wheel 4 in the position shown in Fig. 4:, and, spring-motor of the alarm-mechanism with a key in the usual manner, the detent 97 with the cylinder 98 may be set up in the position shown, thespring 99 serving to hold the detent in place and to adjust the detent with the cylinder 99 to any position at which the casing with its opening 96 may chance to be bolt-wall 83 and the after winding the disposed in the attachment of the device; It will be evident that any attempt thereafter to tow the car or toin any manner rotate the wheel forthe purpose of tampering with the device, the detent 97 will release the escapement-wheel 9 1 and thereby set off the alarm, which would cause detectionof the attempted theft and thereby add further to the utility of the device. Preferably, an arm 101 extends-from the detent 97 over to the keyhole of the device, whereat it terminates in a plate 102, which covers said keyhole, whereby if attempt is madeto' pick the lockitwould require removal of plate'102 and hence would cause dislocation of the detent 97, which would in turn set off the alarm.

'It will be evident to those versed inthis art, from an examinationof this invention, thatin addition to the various advantages above pointed out, these intiprovements will furthermore remedy many of the serious disadvantages and defects that are known to exist in the devices heretofore known.

Variations maybe resorted to within the scope. of theinvent-ion, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. An anti-theft device for automobiles having means projecting beyond the periphery of the automobile wheel, means to secure the devire to the telly of said wheel, means to secure the device to the hub of said wheel, means to move said securing means parallelly to eachother towardand away from each other for fitting the devic-eto said wheel, and key opera-ted mechanism to loci; said securing means to each other. I 2. An anti-theft device for automobiles having means projecting beyond the periphery of the automobile wheel, means to secure the'device to the fellyot' said wheel, means to secure the device to the hub of said wheel, means tomove said securing means telescopically toward and away from each other for-fitting the device to said wheel, and

key operated mechanism to lock said securing ery of the automobile wheel, a member joined to said means adapted to grasp the telly of said wheel on three sides, a member adapted to grasp the hub of said wheel on three sides, and key operated mechanism to lock said members to each other.

41. An anti-theft device for automobiles having means to secure it to the telly of the automobile wheel, means to secure it to the hub of the wheel, said meansbeing movable toward and away from each other for adjusting both of said means for attachment of the device. to the wheel, and key operated mech-' anism to lock said two means to each other in any adjusted. position.

ber adapted to bind against sai the folly of I 5. A device of the means to secure it to the telly of the automo bile wheel, mea-ns'to seen it to the hub of the wheel a means being movable toward and away from each other for adj Listing both of said means for attachment of j-he device'to the wheel, locking mechanism including a binding surface, a movable'niem d surtacmsaid mechanism when in locked sta idisposing said member in the path of one, i said'means, and said last means causin said member to bind it between it ano said surface to preent relativemovement of said means toward each other. I r

6. A. device of the class described having means projecting beyond the periphery of the automobile wheel, a member adapted to grasp said wheel, a member-adapted to grasp the hub of said wheel, spring means tending to force said members away (from each other, and means to secure said members to each other. v

7. An anti-theft device for automobiles having means projecting beyond the periph cry of the automobile wheei, a member adapted to grasp the telly of said wheel, a member adapted to grasp the hub of said wheel, means tending to force said members away from each other, and key operated mechanism to loc said members to each other While locking the member in one direction.

A device of the class described having means to secure it to the telly oi the automobile wheel, means to secure it to the hub of the Wheel, said means being movable toward and away from each other for adjusting both of said means for attachment oi the device to the Wheel, locking mechanism including a movable member having a binding surface, said mechanism when in locked state disposing said member in the path of one of said class described having means, and said last means causing said me her to bind itto Prevent rela ve moven'n of said means toward each other. c 9. it device of the class described having n'ieans to secure it tothe "telly of the automobile Wheel, means to secure to the hub of the wheel, said means being movable parallelly to and toward and away from each otheri'or adjusting both otsa-id means torattachment of the. device to the wheel, and means to 'se cure said two means to each other position;

10. Atliet't orevention device com arisins a pair of yoked members adapted to'be mounted upon an automobile wheel, one of id members adapted to engage theielly, ot the wheel, said members being slidable longi tudinally relatively to each other for adjustment, and key operated mechanism to lock saidmembers ach other at any point.

11. A theft prevention device comprising a pair otn'iembers adapted to be mounted upon an automobile wheel, one of said members adapted to engage the telly of the wheel, said members being slidable longitudinally relatively to each other for adjustment, 'and hey operated mechanism to lock said nembers to each other at'any adjusted position.

12. The combination of a key operated locln ing met'l'ianism, a member slida-ble adjacent to said mechanism in opposite directions, means to lock said member at any point by the operation of the hey against movement in one direction, and said mechanism permitting movement of said member in an opposite di rection while'loclting the member in the one direction.

Signed at the city of New York,- in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 14th day of September, A. 1)., 1921.

JOHN nonrzniin;

in usted 

